Why Do You Love Makeup?

To look at someone's bare face and see the potential of what you can do to it is why I love makeup. You can bring out self-esteem, confidence and a whole new attitude with it. Makeup just makes you look good, feel good and highlights your best features so what is there not to love?

You don't need to spend a lot of time or money in order to get the benefits of it, so why wouldn't you want to look fabulous or bring out your inner Vixen? Red lipstick alone can alter your persona, while smokey eyes can speak volumes, so ask yourself, what are you trying to say with your makeup?

Sunkissed

The sun has finally come out of hibernation to caress our shoulders and put a glow in our cheeks, so whether you swear by bronzer year round, tanning beds, self-tanning lotions, the sun itself or spray tans to get that summer sunkissed glow, lighten up, because you don't want to overdue any method. Don't forget to wear sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a hat to protect yourself. Happy Spring.

Bridal Bliss

Wedding “season” has officially started, and every year there are trends in fashion that some brides look to for inspiration, while others already have a dream of what they envision on their wedding day from head to toe. For some, finding the perfect dress is the most important thing, (after finding the perfect guy of course), but for others, it’s about the makeup, and I have always felt that one without the other just doesn’t work. You need both to be a blushing bride, so booking your makeup artist shouldn’t be a last minute thought or done on your own, because on this very special day there are no “do-overs” and looking radiant is a must.

As a makeup artist I find weddings to be the most rewarding work I can do because I know it’s not just about a made up face, but it is about pictures that will capture the day for eternity. Professionals use products that are photo-ready (and friendly) and long lasting, but we also have the ability to make you a more glamorized version of yourself. So on the one day of your life where hundreds of eyes will be on you all day and night, shouldn’t you look nothing less than spectacular? Of course the guy standing up there next to you with the tuxedo on will get some attention too, but we really know it is all about you, so don't leave it to chance.

Oh No She Didn't

Lately I am noticing a trend pop up that is making me cringe when I see it...neon lipstick. I know trends will repeat themselves eventually but some things were meant to stay dead and buried and this hideous fashion DON'T is one of them. Seriously, who can pull off yellow or green neon lipstick unless you are in a bad 80's music video??!!

I go out a lot and always love to people watch, but when I see horrible makeup I just want to run up and hand them my card and whip out a makeup remover cloth. Retro is cool, don't get me wrong, but bad makeup is bad makeup, and so all I can hope for is someone out there will pull those girls aside, be a friend and hand them a compact mirror. You don't need to try every trend you see to update your look or else we would all be cookie-cutter versions of each other. So leave the neon lipsticks at the makeup counter and don't believe the hype!!!

You CAN be unique and fun with your sense of style and makeup. You can even follow some of the latest trends that are seen on the runways of Fashion Week or in the magazines (within reason), but know that not ALL trends are meant to be followed and really are just an artistic concept brought to life. Like this makeup I did for a photo shoot years ago that was simply meant to be creative, not trend-setting. So find a trend you like and tweak it to make it your own. No need to follow everything by-the-book (or magazine!). I rest my case.

Kiss Me You Fool

Valentines Day is tomorrow but any "date night" makeup should always be about creating a desire. A desire to keep him looking into your eyes... a desire for him to want to kiss your lips... a desire to captivate his attention. What better way to mesmerize the one who has your heart (or whose heart you'd like to have) then to create the perfect date face.

Whether you are having date night with your husband, boyfriend or a new potential love interest, your makeup should always say "kiss me", not "stay away for fear of looking like a clown if you kiss me". Don't forget that your hair should also be soft and touchable too. Nothing is more sexy than looking irresistible.

Your makeup doesn't have to be heavy or dark to make you look made-up, so opt for a light glowing complexion for your face, very subtle blush, sparkling smokey eyes and a light colored lipstick (or tinted gloss) with a little bit of shine, that make your lips just beg to be kissed. This entire look on actress Hilary Duff is perfect!

Beauty in the Real World

We live in a digitally enhanced world, so what we see on t.v., in movies or in magazines these days is always going to be an altered version of the truth. So many young girls look to magazines for inspiration, only to find desperation in their own looks that don’t match up to the perfection that they see in magazines before them.

What everyone needs to realize, is that everything we see in a magazine has been photo-shopped. EVERYTHING. No one is that perfect. Even the most beautiful actress, model or celebrity is never printed without Photoshop fine-tuning the details.

This industry standard isn't meant to deceive the viewer, but only to show a better version. While I have nothing against enhancing an image, I do think the perception of trying to sell that perfection as "natural" is misleading. Anything is possible with Photoshop from the simple removal of wrinkles, dark circles, blemishes, hair color, teeth and eye whitening, thinning out limbs, to completely altering features is possible and SO much more.

If we have a healthy attitude on what we believe to be "natural beauty" and understand that what we see is not always real, we can learn to enjoy the images as simply being entertainment exceptions to the rule...and not the standard. Never to compare. Nothing to look up to.

I personally love seeing before and after celebrity photo-shopped pictures because it makes them more real to me and see that they are just like us...imperfect.

New Year. New You.

"Out with the old and in with the new", as they say. Time to clean out your makeup drawer and start fresh for 2010. New outlook, new products, new attitude, new you. This is the year for change and what better way then to shake up your beauty routine...or better yet, start one! No matter how young or old you are, there is never a bad time to start taking care of your face.

So, invest in some products that work for your skin type and condition. Make that appointment with the Dermatologist to address and fix those issues. Wash your makeup off before bed no matter how tired you are. Cut back on alcohol intake which can wreck havoc on your skin. Increase water consumption for a refreshed complexion. Toss out liquid products that have chemically separated. Try that new lipstick color. No matter how subtle or insignificant you think the change will be, just do it, because sometimes even the slightest change makes a big impact.

Continue to be happy, healthy and beautiful for 2010.